Improvement in steering-gear for vessels



'J.f0. GOTTINGHAM. Steering-Gear for Vessels, No. 213,629.

Patented Mar. 25, 1879.

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NPETEfls. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

JOHN G. OOTTINGHAM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELFAND FRANCIS SHUBERT, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEERING-GEAR FOR VESSELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,629, dated March25, 1879; application filed February 21, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. OOTTINGHAM, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,have invented anew and useful Improvement in Steering- Gear of Vessels,of which the following is a specification My invention relates to animprovement in yielding fastenings for pulley-blocks of steering-tackle;the object of my invention being to provide a secure fastening for theblocks without interfering with its elasticity.

This object I attain in the manner which I will now proceed to describe,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa perspective view of ordinary steering apparatus provided with myimproved pulley-block fastening; and Fig. 2, a vertical section of thefastening, drawn to a larger scale.

In Fig. 1, A represents the steering-wheel; a, its shaft; B, theropedrum; D, the rudderhead, and E the tiller, the sh aft a beingadapted to bearings on the standard I), and to the swiveled bearing (1on the rudder-head, as usual.

One portion of the rope 00 passes from the drum round the pulley of theblock e, thence round a pulley, f, connected to the tiller, and thenceto the strap of the block a, to which the end of the rope is secured.The other portion of the rope passes round the pulley of a block, 0,thence round a pulley attached to the tiller, and thence to the strap ofthe block e, to which the end of the rope is secured.

Each of the blocks 6 e is connected to an eye on a bolt, 9, the latterpassing through an opening in a standard, m, which is screwed into thedeck and deck-beams.

In line with the standard m, but at some little distance therefrom, isanother standard, m, which is also screwed into the deck and deck-beams,the upper ends of the two standards being rigidly connected together bymeans of a cross-bar, n.

The inner end of the bolt gis furnished with a nut, which bears upon aplate, i, the latter having an opening for the reception of the bar 12,by which the said plate is guided.

Between the cap z and the standard m intervene a series of rubber rings,8, and washers t, the rubber rings forming springs, which permit thebolt to yield when any sudden strain is exerted upon it, so that when asea strikes the rudder and causes a sudden movement of the tiller in onedirection or the other the shock is absorbed by the rubber springs 8,instead of being transmitted directly to the drum B and wheel A. Thusthe steersman is protected from the dangerous effects which arefrequently due to a sudden movement of the wheel, caused by the actionof the sea on the rudder.

The strain on the bolt 9 is exerted through the medium of the springs 8upon the standard m, but is resisted by both standards m m, owing to thefact that their upper ends are rigidly connected together by the bar n.

By this means a second bearing for the bolt is insured, and the risk oftearing the fastenings from the deck is materially lessened.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the two standards m m,connected together by a bar, or, with the spring-bolt g, to which ishung a pulley-block, forming part of the steering-tack1e', as set forth.

2. The combination of the standards m m, the connecting-bar n, the bolt9, carrying the pulley f of the steering-tackle, the plate 1', guided bythe bar n, the springs s, and washers if, all as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN G. OOTTINGHAM.

Witnesses:

WM. J. COOPER, HARRY SMITH.

